Procession carries the relics of St. John the Baptist to St. Ivan Island

A liturgy was served among the remains of the medieval monastery on the island of St. Ivan near Sozopol on the day the Church celebrates the Nativity of St. John the Baptist. A procession with the relics of the saint, led by Metropolitan Arseniy of Sliven, set off from the church of "Sts. Cyril and Methodius" in Sozopol and sailed from the port to St. Ivan Island. There, a solemn liturgy was served in the monastery complex destroyed in the early 17th century. On the occasion of the holiday, the municipality provided free transportation to the island with tourist boats. For the second time in a year, the highest church clergy gathered on the island of St. Ivan to honor the memory of the saint, whose relics were discovered there 16 years ago, during a study led by Prof. Kazimir Popkonstantinov.

On June 23, Metropolitan Arseniy officially opened the Pilgrimage Route "Road to the Relics of Saint John the Baptist" in Sozopol. This is the first international pilgrimage, cultural and tourist route of its kind in Bulgaria. It starts in Malko Tarnovo, passes through Strandzha and ends in the church "Sts. Cyril and Methodius" in Sozopol, where the relics of Saint John the Baptist are kept. Guests at the opening were representatives of the European pilgrimage network Camino Europa Compostela, as well as members of non-governmental organizations, Radio Burgas reports.

Editor: Ivo Ivanov